People like dolphins. Their perpetual smile, apparent kindliness and an intelligence said to rival humans have endeared them to people who meet them or see them in dolphinaria, films or on television. Modern research, however, reveals that dolphins are not always what they seem. As well as the caring, friendly side of their nature, they can be aggressive, dangerous and have been known to kill humans, albeit in self-defence.
'Dolphins' looks at current research and reflects the scientific community's fascination with a large-brained creature exhibiting behaviour that can only be described as "intelligent". Dolphins "see" their world using sound, hear through their jaws and sleep with one half of their brain at a time.
The book reveals how mothers and babies are the stable focus on dolphin life, while male dolphins can form lifelong, "bully-boy" gangs that terrorise the local community. It goes on to detail ingenious methods of catching fish with the help of dolphins and their use of tools. Finally the relationship between dolphins and people is examined, looking at the Doctor Dolittle-like obsession of scientists to communicate meaningfully with another species.
Packed with fascinating facts, stories and photographs, 'Dolphins' forms part of a new range of books that has been devised to inform and delight the reader.
